They were the up-and-comers of their time, players who at one point were rated highly enough to be feted with a bauble that suggested big things in the seasons ahead.

The Welsh Rugby Writers’ Association voted them the most promising players in the decade between 2006 and 2016.

Steff Evans collected the award for 2017 at a celebratory dinner this week with much expected of him in the seasons ahead.

But how did his predecessors fare in the years that followed their successes?

Well, three of them went on to become Test Lions, others encountered major injury problems while one or two are still looking to deliver fully on that early potential.

Steff Evans this week picked up his award as Welsh rugby's most promising player for 2017

MARK ORDERS charts the players who were once Welsh rugby’s shooting stars.

2006: Jason Forster

Hard to say what was going on here, for Forster was 35 when he collected his award. Perhaps the vote then was for the most overlooked player.

Certainly the renowned tough nut was a stalwart for the Dragons, someone who led from the front and galvanised those around him. He had won his only Wales cap in 2004 under Mike Ruddock and during that season helped the Rodney Parade team to third in the Celtic League, their highest-ever finish.

Later did some coaching at Doncaster Knights and Henley, while also spent time working with young people for South Gloucestershire Council. A Dragons ambassador, he is believed to be employed in the construction industry these days.

Read More

2007: Tom James

A decade ago James was considered a superb prospect, having scored 12 tries in as many games for Cardiff RFC and made an immediate impact on the regional scene.

A tour to Australia with Wales followed but the player known as The Bullet was less than impressed with being sent on with just three minutes to go against South Africa in 2008 and went public on how he felt, which probably wouldn’t have prompted Warren Gatland to take to the street turning cartwheels.

He didn’t play a Test for 11 months thereafter and another incident in 2010, which saw him walk out of a national training camp after being left out for a Test with Italy, again wouldn’t have been seen as a top tip in any book entitled How To Win 50 Caps For Your Country.

A six-year Test exile followed, during which James had a successful spell with Exeter Chiefs before returning to the Blues. He remains fast and exceptionally dangerous; just seven starts for Wales doesn’t truly reflect his talent.

2008: Jamie Roberts

Jamie Roberts in full flight during his early days with Cardiff Blues

Roberts had already been capped by Wales, on the wing, when he was named most promising player of the year.

He has since enjoyed a stellar career that has seen him play key roles on two successful Lions tours (2009, 2013). Indeed, he was man of the series on the trip to South Africa eight years ago.

There have also been 96 caps for Wales, with the amiable centre skippering the national team on their southern hemisphere tour this summer.

He has been accused of being one dimensional, but his ability to take Wales across the gain-line was fundamental to the Six Nations titles the national team won under Warren Gatland in 2008, 2012 and 2013, two of those Grand Slams.

Read More

2009: Jason Tovey

The 2009 winner, Jason Tovey (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)

Became the first player to score a hat-trick of tries in a competitive game for the Dragons, having previously been named in a Wales senior squad only for a Heineken Cup play-off to prevent him taking up his spot.

But at 28 Tovey is still waiting for his first cap.

He made headlines during a spell with Cardiff Blues after missing a Heineken Cup match in France on the grounds that his dog Buster had chewed up his passport.

Now at Edinburgh, he remains a player with lots of ability, but those at the Dragons who thought he might kick on and play for Wales and even the Lions are still waiting.

2010: Ken Owens

Scarlets skipper Ken Owens

A year after being acknowledged as one to watch, Owens figured as a replacement for Wales at the 2011 World Cup.

The popular hooker has since been consistently excellent for the Scarlets, helping to inspire a Guinness PRO12 title success last season.

He has also been impressive for Wales, winning 50 caps and playing so well last season he toured with the Lions and made appearances in two Tests.

Read More

2013: Eli Walker

In 2013 Gwyn Jones described Eli Walker “as exciting a player to watch as anyone in Europe”.

The ex-Wales captain continued: “In less than a month he has made Toulouse and Leicester look like Sunday league teams.”

But injuries have conspired against Walker.

Indeed, he has had similar misfortune to Ashley Beck, maybe more so.

The flying machine from Swansea has been restricted to just one cap as a number of blows have kept him off limits at key points in his career.

2014: Owen Williams

Owen Williams in action for Leicester Tigers

A series of match-winning shows for Leicester Tigers saw Williams come to accolade-winning attention.

The former Scarlet maintained his form, too, but Test honours eluded him until he came off the bench for 13 minutes for Wales against Tonga this summer.

Now at Gloucester, he is set to continue his push to say in the set-up, with many of his admirers seeing the fly-half as being capable of filling a second playmaker role for Warren Gatland in the national side.